A 

LETTER 

TO  THE 

CITIZENS 

OF 

PENNSYLVANIA, 

O  N  THE 

NECESSITY  OF  PROMOTING 

Agriculture }  Manufactures  and  the 

ufejul  Arts. 


B  Y 

GEORGE  LOGAN,  M.  D. 


SECOND  EDITION. 


PHILADELPHIA: 
PRINTED  BY  PATTERSON  CoCHRAN, 

No.  108,  Race-street, 
hay  I,  l800c 


/ 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

» 

in  2018  with  funding  from 
University  of  North  Carolina  at  Chapel  Hill 


4 


https://archive.org/details/lettertocitizensOOIoga 


A  L  E  T  T  E  R,  &c. 


TO  THE  CITIZENS  OF  PENNSYLVANIA. 

Fellow -citizens, 

r  |  1 H  E  following  Plan  of  an  Affociation,  in- 
JL  tended  to  promote  Agriculture,  Manufac¬ 
tures,  and  the  ufeful  Arts,  has  been  adopted  by 
a  large  number  of  refpedtable  Citizens  at  the 
feat  of  government.  Should  it  meet  with 
your  approbation  ;  your  countenance  and  fup- 
port  to  eftablifh  fimilar  Societies,  within  the 
feveral  counties  of  this  Commonwealth,  will  un¬ 
doubtedly  contribute  to  the  happinefs  and  prof- 
perity  of  our  common  Country. 

cc  The  local  and  phyfical  advantages  enjoy¬ 
ed  by  the  United  States,  afford  to  her  Citizens 
the  means  of  being  fupplied  within  themfelves 
with  mod  articles  neceffary  or  ufeful  in  life. 
This  beins[  an  undeniable  fa 61,  it  becomes  cri- 
minal  in  her  Citizens  not  to  derive  ail  the  ad¬ 
vantages  in  their  power  from  circumflances 
thus  placed  within  their  reach.  Civil  fociety  is 
fo  conflituted,  that  its  date  of  profperity  and 
power  arifes  from  the  independence  and  prod 


(  4  ) 


perky  of  its  members,  and  as  every  Citizen  af¬ 
fords  his  aid  to  fupport  its  municipal  regula¬ 
tions,  by  which  the  property  of  all  is  protected, 
it  becomes  not  only  the  duty,  but  the  intereft, 
of  every  individual  to  promote  the  profperity 
and  independence  of  his  Fellow-citizens.  It  is 
computed,  that  the  Mechanics,  and  ManufaCtu- 
rers  within  the  United  States  comprehend  one 
twentieth  part  of  our  Citizens ;  that  the  Mer¬ 
chants,  Agents,  &c.  compofe  one  twentieth, 
and  that  eighteen  twentieths  are  engaged  in 
Agriculture.  Thofe  men  whofe  inclinations 
lead  them  to  Mechanic  or  Manufacturing  oc¬ 
cupations  for  a  fupport,  and  who  have  no  de¬ 
fire  to  engage  in  the  cares  and  fatigues  of  a 
Country  life,  will  confider  it  for  their  advan¬ 
tage,  that  their  Fellow-citizens  fhould  give  a 
preference  to  the  produce  of  their  induftry, 
over  Foreign  Manufactures.  The  Merchants, 
merely  as  Agents,  no  doubt  confider,  that  eve¬ 
ry  kind  of  Mechanic  and  Manufacturing  em¬ 
ploy,  fhould  be  difcouraged  within  the  United 
States,  as  agents  equally  interefted  in  fupport- 
ing  the  profperity  of  the  Foreign  Manufactu¬ 
rer,  as  the  American  Farmer ;  they  fhould  ra¬ 
ther  be  confidered  as  Citizens  of  the  World, 
than  Citizens  of  any  particular  Common- 
y/ealth.  To  fend  clay  to  England  to  be  return- 


(  5  ) 


ed  made  into  Bricks,  Limeftone  into  Lime* 
and  Wheat  into  Flour,  would  not  be  more  ab- 

* 

furd  than  the  praCtice  we  have  been  in,  for  ma¬ 
ny  years,  of  exporting  our  Flax-Seed,  Iron 
and  Furs  to  Europe,  to  be  returned  in  a  varie¬ 
ty  of  Manufactured  Articles,  equally  capable 
of  being  fabricated  amongft  ourfelves.  Export¬ 
ing  all  your  Raw  Materials  to  Europe,  to  be 
manufactured,  would  create  a  great  degree  of 
buttle  at  our  fea-ports ;  would  create  a  great 
quantity  of  (hipping  and  would  increafe  the 
buiinefs  and  wealth  of  the  Merchants,  but  it 
would  certainly  add  nothing  to  the  aCtual 
wealth  or  independence  of  our  Country. 

The  Fanners  comprehending  eighteen-twen¬ 
tieths  of  the  people  of  the  United  States,  are  fo 
advantageoufly  fituated,  that  theycan  manufac¬ 
ture,  immediately  from  their  own  Far  ms, all  the 
Woollen  and  Linen  Cloth  neceffary  in  their  fa¬ 
milies, and  at  a  cheaper  rate  than  any  imported  ; 
taking  into  confederation  the  fuperior  quality 
of  the  Domeflic  Manufacture,  for  real  use,  and 
the  time  and  labour  beffowed  and  Lived  by  the 
family.  Independent  of  this  important  faCt, 
it  is  the  peculiar  interefi  of  the  Farmers,  that 
they  fhould  give  every  encouragement  to  toe 
Mechanics,  and  Manufacturers  of  the  United 


(  6  ) 


States ;  by  which  they  may  procure  a  certain 
and  fteady  market  at  their  own  doors,  for  the 
furplus  produce  of  their  induftry  ;  which  could 
not  be  interrupted  by  foreign  competition, 
or  deftroyed  by  the  impolitic  meafures  of  our 
own  Executive  Government,  or  by  the  arbitra¬ 
ry  laws  of  foreign  Countries.  The  labour  of 
the  Citizens  o.  the  United  States,  actually  en¬ 
gaged  in  Manufactures,  cannot  be  procured 
at  the  low  rate  of  that  of  the  Subjects  of  En¬ 
gland,  either  in  Europe,  or  in  India ;  nor 
fliould  it  be  looked  for  by  ary  man  who  values 
the  real  independence  or  his  country.  An  ex¬ 
change,  for  the  mutual  advan.age  of  the  par¬ 
ties,  ought  to  be  fupported  by  juftice.  Every 
manufacturer  fhould  have  fuch  an  equivalent 
for  his  labour  as  to  enable  him  to  live  with 
comfort ;  to  educate  his  children  and  to  pre- 
ferve  fomething  for  the  fupport  of  his  family 
in  cafe  of  unavoidable  accident.  ri  his  is  fo  far 
from  being  the  cafe  in  the  Britifh  domin¬ 
ions,  from  whence  we  derive  moil  of  our  manu¬ 
factures,  that  but  a  fmall  number  of  the  work¬ 
men  receive  an  adequate  compenfation  for 
their  labour. 

In  rewarding  their  exertion  or  ingenuity  no 
rule  of  equity  is  attended  to  ;  on  the  contrary, 


(  7  ) 


a  combination  takes  place  to  reduce  the  wages 
of  the  manufacturer  to  a  fcanty  fubfiftence. 
From  the  tendered  infancy  they  are  doomed 
to  perpetual  labour,  and  have  no  time,  even  in 
childhood,  for  the  neceffary  exercife  of  the  bo¬ 
dy,  or  the  cultivation  of  the  mind.  Thus  the 
poor  man,  upon  whofe  induftry  depends  the 
fo  much  boafted  extent  of  Rritifh  manufactures 
is,  by  the  force  of  arbitrary  regulations,  obli¬ 
ged  to  fuch  exceffive  toil,  that  he  is  reduced  to 
a  mere  animal  exigence,  having  no  intereft  in 
the  profperity  of  his  country,  or  as  little  capa¬ 
ble  of  ferving  it  in  time  of  danger.55  # 

It  is  more  than  twenty  years  fince  Pennfyl- 
vania  has  taken  her  ftation  among  the  Nations 
of  the  Earth,  as  a  free,  fovereign,  and  inde¬ 
pendent  Republic.  Our  political  exiftence 
commenced  in  a  manner  that  reflcCfed  on  us 
the  greateft  glory  ;  and  the  fir  ft  dawnings  of 
the  American  Empire  feemed  to  prefage  its  fu¬ 
ture  greatnef  .  t  ur  Country  poifelled  every 
thing  neceffary  to  conflitute  a  truly  independ¬ 
ent  and  happy  People.  No  Country  ever  en¬ 
joyed  thefe  requifites  in  a  higher  degree.  Such 
were  our  profpe&s ;  but  we  have  tarnifhed  the 

^  See  an  Addrefs,  delivered  before  the  Tam¬ 
many  Society,  at  their  Auniverfary,  on  the  12th  of 
May,  .{798* 


(  8  ) 


rifing  glory  of  our  Country,  and  involved  it  in 
difficulties  and  diftrefs.  We  have  wantonly 
fported  with  the  fair  portion  allotted  to  us  by 
Heaven.  We  have  departed  from  thofe  plain 
and  fimple  manners,  and  that  frugal  mode  of 
living,  which  are  abfolutely  neceffary  in  the 
infant  ft  ate  of  our  Country,  and  beft  fuited  to 
our  Republican  form  of  Government. 

A  vaft  work  remains  to  be  done,  that  re¬ 
quires  all  the  Virtues  and  Abilities  of  every 
individual  citizen  to  accomplifh.  The  world 
expects  meafures  to  evince,  that  our  conteft 
with  Great  Britain  was  for  a  noble  oppor¬ 
tunity  of  promoting  the  general  good  of  our 
Country  ;  and  not  for  the  poor  purpofe  of 
gratifying  inferior  defigns.  Guided  by  thefe 
laudable  views,  you  will  generoufly  difdain  any 
other  conduct,  than  that  of  diffufmg  benefits 
to  your  Fellow-citizens.  Your  enlightened 
minds  will  readily  determine,  that  he  is  an  Ene¬ 
my  to  the  State,  who  treats  his  Fellow-citizens 
with  neglect. 

In  a  ftate  of  civil  Society,  man  inuft  be 
confidered  as  a  Member  of  a  great  political 
Family.  He  is  connected  with  his  Fellow-citi¬ 
zens,  by  ties  of  interejl  and  benevolent  attach¬ 
ment  ;  and  his  focial  affections  muft  extend  to 


(  9  ) 


the  whole  Community  of  which  he  is  a  Mem¬ 
ber.  He  fhould  feel  the  Safety,  and  the  com¬ 
mon  Welfare,  intimately  connected  with  his 
own;  and  he  fhould  think  nothing  unimport¬ 
ant  to  himfelf,  which  concerns  the  welfare  of 
his  Country.  This  it  is  that  conftitutes  what 
is  called  Patriotifm,  a  principle  that  excites  and 
cherifhes  every  generous  fentiment  we  poffefs., 
Since  then,  it  is  equally  our  intereft  as  duty  to 
promote  the  Welfare  and  Honor  of  our  Coun¬ 
try,  we  fhould  make  every  poffible  exertion  to 
eftablifh  and  maintain  both.  The  public  Good 
and  our  own,  are,  with  refpedt  to  their  ulti¬ 
mate  effects,  clofely  united  ;  for  which  reafon 
it  is  incumbent  on  us  to  do  every  thing  in  our 
power  to  enrich  our  Country,  and  to  prevent 
its  difgrace. 

Upon  the  Citizens  of  Pennfylvania  is  turned 
the  attention  of  Europe,  obferving,  whether  we 
know  how  to  ufe,  as  well  as  how  to  acquire. 
Empire ;  whether  we  are  to  be  admired,  or 
defpifed ;  in  fine,  whether,  left  as  we  are  to 
ourfelves,  upon  this  fair  and  folemn  trial,  be¬ 
fore  the  Nations  of  the  Earth,  the  caufe  of 
Republican  Liberty  fhall  be  juflified  by  its  ef¬ 
fects,  or  {hall  be  condemned  as  the  introducer 

B 


(  10  ) 


of  more  Calamities  than  it  removes.  With 
you  is  the  facred  Truft  of  realizing  the  Bleff- 
ing  of  Freedom,  and  of  improving,  to  the 
beft  advantage,  the  fignal  favors  which  our 
Country  now  enjoys.  But,  folid  advantages  can 
never  be  attained  in  a  Commonwealth,  unlefs 
the  Members  of  the  Community  are  imprefied 
with  an  afFedionate  regard  for  each  other* 
Every  individual  fhould  conlfantly  remember 
that  he  is  a  Citizen  ;  that  Heaven  itfelf  has 
formed  the  Relationfhip,  with  all  its  obliga¬ 
tions,  by  endowing  man  with  Reafon,  and 
framing  his  nature  for  civil  Society  :  That,  of 
eourfe,  he  ought  to  love  his  Companions,  and 
be  as  anxious  and  active  for  their  combined 
Happinefs  and  Honor,  as  for  his  own  Welfare  5 
and  he  fhould  firmly  believe  that  this  is  his 
true  filtered,  as  well  as  his  inviolable  Duty. 

It  was  by  thinking  and  aiding  in  this  manner., 
that  the  Citizens  of  Greece  and  Rome,  in  their 
better  days,  elevated  thofe  Republics  to  the 
eminent  rank  in  Fame,  which,  even  at  this  dis¬ 
tant  period  of  time,  engages  the  univerfal  ap- 
plaufe  of  Mankind.  Nor  fhould  it  be  forgot, 
that  it  was  ceafmg  thus  to  think  and  ad,  that 
their  degenerate  Poderity  refigned  themfelves 
to  feuds  and  difcords;  and,  with  mutual  ma- 


lice,  undermined  that  ftrength,  which  all  their 
foreign  Foes  could  not  conquer.  At  length 
they  funk  together  into  irrecoverable  confufion 
and  utter  dedruction.  More  recent,  and  equal¬ 
ly  mournful,  examples  of  this  political  Truth, 
might  be  adduced* 

The  fame  vices  produce,  in  different  regions 
and  ages,  the  fame  confequences ;  and  the  Fac¬ 
tions  and  Divifions  among  Citizens,  are  ftill 
found  to  change  the  enraged  Adverfaries, blind¬ 
ly  intent  only  on  the  fuccefs  of  their  own  igno¬ 
ble  quarrels,  into  the  humble  Slaves  of  a  Ty¬ 
rant, 

Let  us  not,  with  preemptive  rafhnefs,  fup- 
pofe  that  we  can  imitate  their  Faults,  without 
experiencing  their  Fate.  Their  Misfortunes, 
and  the  caufes  of  them,  have  been  providen¬ 
tially  tranfmitted  to  us,  as  faithful  Warnings, 
All  the  fucceeding  improvements  of  the  human, 
mind,  are  presented  to  us  for  our  ufe,  inviting 
to  an  obfervance  of  them  by  the  mod;  fubiime 
eonfiderations.  To  offend  againd  fuch  know** 
ledge,  thus  munificently  offered  to  our  ufe,  is 
defpitefully  to  reprobate  the  bed  Gifts  of  the 
bountiful  Creator,  and  impiouily  to  renounce 
that  kind  and  focial  temper,  which  his  immu? 


(  12  ) 

tabic  Law  makes  the  foundation  of  all  private 
Happinefs.  May  the  People  of  Pennfylvania 
be  governed  by  better  principles,  fo  that, 
whilft  every  Citizen  is  dedfadly  feeking  to  pro¬ 
mote  the  bed  intereds  of  his  Country,  the  col¬ 
lected  force  of  the  whole  may  be  uniformly  ex¬ 
erted  to  fupply  that  common  fund  of  Prolperi- 
ty,  from  which  every  individual  mud  draw 
his  fhare.  May  no  contention  remain  among 
us,  but  who  fliall  bed  ferve  his  Country. 

Let  Pennfylvania  not  only  exhibit  flouridling 
Inclofures  and  Idarvefts,  but  the  comfortable 
Houfes  of  indudrious  Artids  and  Manufactur¬ 
ers.  It  is  impoffible  to  contemplate  the  pro- 
grefs  which  we  have  already  made,  without 
infpiring  a  defire  to  progrels  in  every  ufeful 
Occupation.  The  certainty  of  its  being  podi- 
ble,  affords  fufficient  encouragement  to  perie- 
vere  with  Ardor  and  Enthufiafm. 

In  an  age,  alfo,  when  Philofophical  Inqui¬ 
ries  have  univerfally  pervaded  the  civilized 
World,  and  when  human  relearches  have  been 
directed  to  the  attainment  of  ufelul  knowledge; 
the  Arts  and  Sciences  have  arrived  to  a  degree 
of  improvement,  that  juftly  didinguifhes  the 
prefent  Century,  as  the  sera  of  refined  Genius 
and  Learning  ;  ObjeCts  of  Science  are  however, 


(  J3  ) 


Continually  acquiring  new  Lights,  and  the  Arts 
are  (till  advancing  towards  the  higheft  perfec¬ 
tion,  of  which  they  are  fufceptible.  Ferfeve- 
rance  in  theinveftigation  of  the  nature,  proper¬ 
ties,  and  the  ufes  of  things,  mult  necelfarily  lead 
to  further  attainments  in  ufeful  knowledge. 

For  your  encouragement  in  this  patriotic  urt- 
dertaking,  it  may  be  obferved,  that  the  great- 
eft  part  of  the  eftablifhinents  which  have  taken 
place  in  the  World,  calculated  to  promote  the 
ufeful  Arts,  have  been  brought  about  by  the 
exertions  of  private  Citizens  :  Yet,  notwith- 
ftanding  a  degree  of  prefumptuous  confidence, 
which  always  accompanies  grand  and  ufeful 
undertakings ;  we  muft  not  difguife  the  Oppo¬ 
sition  and  Difficulties  you  will  meet  with,  from 
interefted  Foreigners,  who  have  been  too  long 
in  the  habit  of  furniffiing  our  Country  with 
thofe  articles,  which  we  now  defire  to  have 
fupplied  by  the  Ingenuity  and  Induftry  of  our 
own  Citizens.  It  is  high  time,  that  the  influx 
of  foreign  Manufactures  and  the  adoption  of 
foreign  Fafhions,  fhould  not  deftroy  our  Na¬ 
tional  Character,  or  impede  our  progrefs  to  si 
fituation  truly  independent. 

Proud  of  the  advantages  which  our  own 


(  ‘4  ) 


Country  will  afford,  and  which  our  own  La*  • 
hour  will  procure  9  let  us  diidain  to  be  the  fer- 
vile  Imitators  ot  other  Nations,  or  to  adopt 
foreign  manners  inconfiftent  with  our  Republi¬ 
can  form  of  Government.  The  fmallnefs  of 
your  numbers,  in  any  particular  DiArict,  fhould 
not  dncourage  you  irom  eltablifhing  patriotic 
Societies:  In  i'mall  Societies, men  are  encouraged 
to  communicate  their  fentiments  freely  ;  and 
there  is  lcarcely  any  man  whole  Communica- 
tions  will  not, on  tome  occafions,beo!ufe.  Nor 
Ihould  flight  difficulties  in  the  undertaking, 
be  any  obflacle  to  your  perfeverance.  Make 
but  a  fxncere  beginning,  and  the  immediate 
Advantages,  that  will  refult  from  your  Affocia- 
tions,  will  Aimuiate  to  a  laudable  perfeverance6 

The  bread  of  every  Republican  Citizen  will 
glow  with  the  importance  of  the  caule  in  which 
he  is  engaged.  No  man  deferves  Confidence, 
who  is  lhaken  by  every  wind,  or  who  can  en¬ 
dure  no  Adverfxties  in  the  caufe  in  which  he 
may  be  engaged. 


THE 


CONSTITUTION 


O  F 


The  Lancafler  County  Society 


For  promoting  of  Agriculture,  Manufactures, 
and  the  ufeful  Arts. 


PREA  M  B  L  E. 

INDEPENDENT  Communities  do  not  owe 
their  Characters  to  the  Soil  which  they 
occupy  ;  but  to  their  Progrefs  in  the  uteful 
Arts.  To  thofe  Caufes  are  to  be  attributed, 
not  only  the  difference  in  the  Characters  and 
the  Manners  of  Nations,  but  their  Profperity, 
Strength,  and  Happinefs,  On  this  account, 
Political  Juftice  requires,  that  every  Individual, 
in  becoming  a  Member  of  a  particular  Society, 
fnould  adopt  a  mode  of  conduCt  confident  with 
his  relative  fituation  to  fuch  Society.  M  en 
would  never  have  affociated  together,  it  they 
had  not  expeCted,  that,  in  confequence  of  fuch 
Aflociation,  they  would  mutually  conduce  to 


(  ) 


the  Advantage  and  Happinefs  of  each  other. 
This  is  the  real  Purpofe  the  genuine  Foundation 
of  civil  Society  ;  and,  as  far  as  this  Purpofe  is 
anfwered,  fo  far  does  civil  Society  anfwer  the 

end  of  its  inftitution. 

✓ 

Upon  the  Emancipation  of  our  Country 
from  the  Political  Yoke  of  Great  Britain,  we 
deemed  and  called  ourfelves  a  free  and  indepen¬ 
dent  Commonwealth:  But  there  are  means  of 
inferior  and  indirect  Subjugation,  from  which 
our  Country  is  not  yet  emancipated. 

The  Citizens  of  Pennfylvania  are  yet  behold¬ 
en  to  the  Britilh,  for  the  determinations  of  her 
Courts,  for  her  Maxims  of  Commercial  Policy, 
and  for  many  Political  Prejudices* 

We  are  dependent  on  Great  Britain  for  al- 
moft  every  Article  of  Clothing  we  wear,  for  a 
great  part  of  the  Furniture  of  our  Houfes,  for 
the  Inftruments  of  our  amufements,  and  for 
the  means  of  our  Defence. 

Nor  is  it  only  for  Articles  of  immediate  im¬ 
port  from  that  Country,  that  we  are  dependent 
on  Great  Britain.  The  dangerous  pre-eminence 
of  her  Navy  :  A  Navy  that  Domineers,  with 


(  *7  ) 

impunity,  on  the  Ocean ;  that  incefTantly  threat- 
ens  the  Peace  of  the  Earth  ;  that  carries  the 
devaftations  of  War,  upon  every  pietended  in- 
fult,  from  the  Shores  of  that  liland,  to  the  re- 
moteff  parts  of  the  Globe ;  that  irnper  oufiy 
forces  every  Maritime  Country  to  take  part 
in,  or  fuffer  by  her  quarrels;  and  prohibits,  at 
pleafufe,  the  Commercial  Intercourse  of  the 
World.  From  the  dangerous  pre-eminence  of 
this  Navy  we,  alfo,  are  perpetually  liable  to  be 
Interdicted  from  thofeArticles  of  Consumption., 
which  Expedience  or  Neceffitv  have  indu¬ 
ced  us  to  Seek  for  from  other  Countries :  And 
yet  our  Clothing,  imported  from  Great  Bri¬ 
tain,  is  made  tributary  to  fupport  this  very 
Navy  ;  which  is  daily  committing  the  molt 
wanton  Depredations  on  our  Commerce.  Nor 
is  it  an  Evil  of  trifling  magnitude,  that  the  Cre¬ 
dit,  a! mod  forced  upon  our  Merchants  by  the 
Cupidity  of  the  Britifh  Traders,  has  overwhelm¬ 
ed  our  Country,  with  Britifh  Merchandize,  far 
beyond  the  real  Wants  of  the  Confumer.  It 
has  excited  our  Farmers  to  needlefs  Expenfe, 
and  involved  them  in  Difficulties,  for  Articles 
of  mere  Luxury  ;  It  has  rendered  the  plain^ 
but  comfortable,  Manufactures,  which  employ  - 
eA  the  leifure  hours  of  their  Wives  and  Baugh* 

C 


(  ) 

ters,  difreputable,  becaufe  unfafhionable.  It 
has  made  the  Farmer  tributary  to  the  Store¬ 
keeper  ;  the  Storekeeper,  to  the  Merchant,  of 
Philadelphia  ;  the  Merchant  of  Philadelphia,  to 
the  Merchant  of  Great  Britain.  i  he  Credit 
thus  given,  can,  at  any  time,  be  withdrawn  ; 
the  Debts  thus  contracted,  can,  at  any  time, 
be  demanded  ;  and  the  Peace  and  Comfort  of 
a  numerous  Body  of  American  Citizens  are 
now,  and  have  long  been,  at  the  Mercy  of 
Britifh  Merchants,  and  of  the  Britifh  Court* 
Hence  are  our  Commercial  Towns  filled  with 
Britifh  Subjects,  who  conduct  our  Trade  ;  with 
Britifh  Agents,  who  drain  our  Wealth;  with 
Britifh  Politics,  Britifh  Interefts,  and  Britifh 
Influence.  To  leffen,  in  part,  thefe  enormous 
Evils  ;  to  render  our  Citizens,  in  their  private 
as  well  as  in  their  public  Capacities,  really  as 
they  ougf  t  to  be,  independent  of  Foreign  Coun - 
tries i  for  Articles  which  the  Neceflities,  or  the 
Comforts,  of  Life  require ;  and  to  fupprefs 
the  Temptations  to  improvident  Expenfe;  We 
propofe  a  general  encouragement  to  Agriculture, 
Manufactures,  and  the  ufeful  Arts*  An  en¬ 
couragement  that  fhall  make  the  ufe  of  our  own 
Productions  and  Manufactures  the  fafhionable 
Articles  of  Confumption ;  at  leaft  in  every 
Circle  of  American  Republicans . 


C  l9  ) 


Not  that  it  is  our  Defire  to  make  this,  in 
the  commom  acceptation  of  the  Word,  a  Ma¬ 
nufacturing  Country:  Nor  do  we  contemplate 
any  Manufactured  Article  for  an  export  Trade, 
nor  any  Manufacture  among  ourfelves,  which 
the  natural  Refources  of  our  Country  may  not 
ma^e  profitable. 

Still  lefs  are  we  defirous  of  introducing  is. 
this  happy  Country,  that  baneful  fyftem  of  Eu¬ 
ropean  Management  which  dooms  the  human 
Faculties  to  be  fmothered,  and  Man  to  be  con¬ 
verted  into  a  Machine.  We  want  not  that  un¬ 
feeling  plan  of  Manufacturing  Policy,  which 
lias  debilitated  the  Bodies,  and  debafed  the 
Minds,  of  fo  large  a  Clafs  of  People  as  the 
Manufacturers  of  Europe. 

Nor  are  we  ambitious  to  fee  a  Manufacturing 
Capitalift,  as  in  the  great  Manufacturing  Towns 
of  Europe,  enjoy  his  Luxuries,  or  fill  his  Cof¬ 
fers,  by  paring  down  the  hard-earned  W  ages 
of  the  laborious  Artifls  he  employs. 

But  the  ObjeCt  of  our  Affociation  is,  to  pro¬ 
cure,  from  the  fertile  Soil  of  Pennfylvania,  eve¬ 
ry  Production  it  is  capable  of  affording  ;  and, 
from  the  Labour  and  ingenuity  of  independent 


(  20  ) 


Citizens,  every  Article  of  Manufacture  and  of 
the  ufeful  Arts,  neceffary  to  render  our  Coun¬ 
try  happy,  profperous,  and  truly  independent. 


article  i. 

The  Society  (hall  be  called  The  Lancafter 

'  '  <"  r  \ 

County  Society,  for  promoting  Agricultures 
Manufactures,  and  the  ufeful  Arts, 

ART.  II. 

The  Society  (hall  hold  monthly  Meetings  on 
the  firil  Wednefday  of  every  Month. 

ART,  III. 

The  firft  Wednefday  in  September,  in  every 
Year,,  ihall  be  the  Annual  Meeting  of  the  Soci¬ 
ety  ;  at  which  Meeting  a  Prefident,  a  Vice-pre- 
fident,  Secretary,  Treafurer,  and  a  Committee 
ot  Correfpondence  Ihall  be  ele&ed,  by  Ballot. 

ART.  IV. 

The  Prefident  {hall  prefide  at  all  the  Meet¬ 
ings  of  the  Society,  regulate  the  Debates,  de¬ 
termine  Queftions  of  Order  ;  and,  in  cafe  of  an 
equality  of  Voices  in  any  Rufmefs,  he  fhall  have 
a  cafting  Vote.  He  ihall  fubfcribe  all  Acts  of 
the  Society  j  and  may  call  Special  Meetings. 

*.  j  t  ■  . 


(  *1  ) 


ART.  Vo 

The  Vice-Prefident,  in  abfence  of  the  Prefi- 
dent,  fha  1  have  ail  the  Powers  and  Authorities 
of  the  Prefident.  If  the  Prefident  and  Vice- 
Prefident  be  abfent  at  any  Meeting  of  the  So¬ 
ciety,  a  Chairman  may  be  elected,  pro  tern*  by 
a  majority  of  the  Members  prefent. 

ART.  VI. 

The  Secretary  ihall  keep  fair  and  regular 
Entries  of  the  proceedings  of  the  Society  at 
their  feveral  Meetings,  regiiler  the  names  of 
Members,  and  give  Public  Notice  of  the  Time 

t 

and  Place  of  the  Meetings  of  the  Society. 

ART.  VII. 

The  Committee  ofCorrefpondence  Ihall  con- 
fift  of  twelve  Members,  who  fnali  be  Agents 
of  Information  ;  four  for  Agriculture,  four  for 
Manufacture,  and  four  for  the  ufeful  Arts ; 
and  whofe  Duty  it  fhall  be,  jointly  or  feveraliy, 
to  correfpond  with  fimilar  Inflitutions,  or  with 
Individuals  on  the  feveral  Objects  of  the  Soci¬ 
ety  :  And  they  fhall,  at  every  monthly  Meet¬ 
ing  of  the  Society,  communicate  fuch  Informal 


i 


(  22  ) 

I 

lion  as  they  may  have  received  or  acquired, 
tending  to  improve  Agriculture,  Manufac- 
tures,  and  ufeful  Arts. 

ART.  VIII. 

As  the  moft  unequivocal  manner  of  giving 
Encouragement  to  American  Manufactures, 
coil  flits  in  making  ufe  of  them,  and  by  that 
mean  creating  a  demand  for  them  ;  it  is  ex¬ 
pected,  that  every  Member  of  the  Society  fhall 
be  clothed,  at  their  Annual  Meeting,  in  the 
Manufactures  of  his  Country. 

ART.  IX. 

Every  Member  of  fimilar  Societies  fhall  be 
regarded  as  an  honorary  Member  of  this  So¬ 
ciety* 

ART.  X. 

The  Society  fhall  engage  a  Storekeeper  to 
receive  and  fell,  on  Commiffion,  any  Thread, 
Woollen,  Linen,  or  any  other  domedic  Manu¬ 
facture  brought  to  him  ;  by  which  means  eve¬ 
ry  Member  of  this  Society  may  have  a  fafe  e- 
pofit  for  the  Produce  of  his  Induftry  and  In¬ 
genuity  ;  and  perfons,  wilhing  to  be  fupplied 
with  American  Manufactures, may  know  where 
to  apply. 


C  33  ) 


ART.  XI. 

Every  Member  of  the  Society  fliall  fubfcribe 
this  Conftitution  ;  at  which  time  he  fliall  pay 
to  the  1  reafurer,  not  lefs  than  one  Dollar  * 
and  he  fliall  alfo  pay  a  monthly  contribution 
of  one-eighth  of  a  Dollar,  towards  iupporting 
the  Funds  of  the  Society. 

ART.  XII. 

The  Funds  of  the  Society  fliall  be  diftributed 
to  the  Citizens  of  Lancafter  County,  in  Pre* 
miums,infuch  Manner,  and  on  fuch  Occafions 
as  a  Majority  of  the  Society  may  dire£l« 

ART.  XIIIc 

The  Treafurer  fhall  be  refponfible  for  all 
Monies  he  may  receive  on  account  of  the  So¬ 
ciety  :  And  he  fliall  pay  no  money,  belonging 
to  the  Society,  except  by  an  Order  of  the 
Freftdent,  figned  by  the  Secretary, 


(  24  ) 


The  following  Bill  was  read  in  the  Honfe  of 
Reprefentatives  of  this  State,  a  few  days 
Previous  to  their  adjournment  ;  and  is  now 

<  r 

fubmitted  to  the  Confideration  of  the  Public* 


An  Ad  for  the  Promotion  of  Agriculture ,  Ma~ 
nufadures ,  and  the  ufefid  Arts . 

Se£b  i .  Be  it  enaded  by  the  Senate  and  Houfe 

cf  Reprefentatives  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Penn - 

fylvania  in  General  AJfembly  met ,  and  it  is  hereby 

enaded  by  the  authority  of  the  fame ,  That  fo 
foon  as  fifty  Freeholders,  or  more,  in  the  city 

of  Philadelphia,  or  any  county  of  this  State9 
(hall  affociate  themfelves  together,  under  the 
name  of  the  Society  for  promoting  Agriculture,  ] 
Manufactures,  and  the  ufeful  Arts,  in  and  for 
the  city  or  fuch  county  ;  and  final  1  fign  a  pa¬ 
per,  promifmg  to  pay  to  the  Treafurer  of  the 
faid  Society,  the  fum  of  one  dollar,  each,  or 
more,  annually,  for  the  purpofes  herein  after 
mentioned  ;  and  fhall  caufe  fuch  paper  to  be 
filed  in  the  Office  of  the  Prothonotary  ;  every 
fuch  Society  fhall  be,  and  by  force  of  this  Adb 
become,  one  body  politic  and  corporate,  in 


(  25  ) 

deed  and  in  law,  with  perpetual  fucceffion 
and  all  the  rights,  liberties  privileges,  and  fran- 
ehifes  incident  to  a  Corporation,  for  all  and 
every  the  purpofes  of  this  a  &  ;  and  to  admit 
new  Members,  upon  the  terms  aforefaid,  as  of¬ 
ten  as  they  pleafe  :  £nd  thereupon  the  faid 
Society  fhall  or  may  meet  at  the  county  Town 
on  the  Wednefday  of  the  next  Court  of  Com¬ 
mon  Pleas  after  the  faid  fubfcription-paper 
fhall  be  filed,  and  chooie  by  a  majority  of  votes5 
out  of  their  number,  one  Prefident,  one  Vice- 
prefident,  one  Secretary,  one  Treafurer,  and 
a  Committee  of  Correfpondence,and  Informa¬ 
tion  ;  who  fhall  be  willing  to  contribute  their 
fervices,  and  attend  to  the  duties  of  their  Of¬ 
fices,  without  fee  or  reward,  and  who  fhall  be 
fuch  Officers  of  the  faid  Society  for  the  year 
thence  next  follo  wing  :  And  other  fuch  Offi¬ 
cers  fhall  be  chofen  at  a  ftated  meeting,  to  be 
held  on  the  Wednefday  of  the  fame  term  an¬ 
nually,  for  ever  thereafter.  And  the  faid  So¬ 
ciety  fhall  meet  on  the  Wednefday  of  every 
term  of  the  County  Courts,  and  at  other 
times  when  the  Prefident  and  a  majority  of 
the  Members  prefent  fhall  think  proper  to  fum« 
mon  them,  in  fuch  manner  as  fhall  be  by  them 
prefcribedj  for  the  purpofe  of  making  Bye« 

D 


(  26  > 

laws,  and  tranfaCting  the  bufmefs  to  them 
committed  :  And  they  may  adjourn  from  time 
to  time,  as  they  fhall  fee  caufe- 

SeCt.  2.  And  be  it  further  enabled  by  the  au+ 
thority  aforefaid ,  1  hat,  at  the  next  afleffment 
of  the  city  and  county  Rates,  after  any  fuch 
Society  (hall  be  eftablifhed  or  organized,  in 
the  city  or  any  county  within  this  State,  the 
county  Commiflioners  fhall,  and  they  are  here¬ 
by  enjoined  and  required  to  lay  and  affefs,  and 
caufe  to  be  levied  aud  collected,  in  the  fame 
manner  and  by  the  fame  perfons,  as  the  city 
and  county  taxes  are  laid,  affeffed,  levied,  and 
collected,  an  additional  fum  of  fifty  dollars 
for  every  Member  which  the  city  or  fuch  coun¬ 
ty  is  entitled  to  eleCt  and  fend  to  the  Houfe  of 
Reprefentatives,  in  and  for  this  Common¬ 
wealth,  and  to  caufe  the  fame  to  be  paid  to  the 
Treafurer  of  the  faid  Society  ;  to  be  expend¬ 
ed,  together  with  their  annual  fubfcriptions, 
for  the  ufes  herein  after  mentioned. 

SeCt.  3.  And  be  it  further  enabled  by  the  au~ 
thority  aforefaid ,  That,  every  fuch  Society,  at 
feme  general  meeting  thereof,  fhall  fix  and  de¬ 
termine  upon  fuch  articles  of  Agricultural  Pro¬ 
duction,  or  improvement  in  Manufactures  or 


C  27  ) 

die  ufeful  Arts,  as,  in  their  judgment,  sue  en¬ 
titled  to  encouragement  by  Rewards  ;  and  fhall 
fix,  afcertain,  and  publifh,  in  fuch  manner  as 
fhall  be  dire&ed  by  their  Bye-laws,  fuch  Re¬ 
wards,  and  the  conditions  whereupon  the  lame 
fhall  become  due  and  payable  to  the  perfon  or 
perfons  who  fhall,  by  his,  her,  or  their  {kill 
or  indullry,  according  to  fuch  Conditions,  be¬ 
come  entitled  to  the  fame,  as  they  {hall  think 
will  be  beneficial  to  the  county  :  And  the  faid 
Society  fhall,  at  their  dated  meetings,  or  at 
fuch  times  and  places  as  fhall  be  prefcribed  by 
the  Bye-laws  of  inch  Society,  meet  at  the 
County  Town,  for  the  purpofe  of  hearing  the 
Parties  applying  for  fuch  Rewards,  and  of  ex¬ 
amining  their  proofs  or  fp.  cimens  *,  and  fhall 
have  full  power  and  author  ty  to  determine, 
whether  any  or  either  of  the  Applicants  is  en¬ 
titled  to  the  Rewards  fo  advertifed,  according 
to  the  terms  and  conditions  thereto  annexed  ; 
and  to  draw  Orders,  to  be  figned  by  the  Pre- 
fident,  on  the  Treafurer,  for  the  amount  of 
fuch  Rewards,  in  favor  of  the  perfon  fo  whom 
the  fame  fhall  be  adjudged  ;  which  Orders  the 
Treafurer  fhall  pay  out  of  the  monies  in^his 
hands,  arifing  from  the  laid  taxes  and  iul> 
fcriptions. 


(  28  ) 

Sed.  4.  And  be  it  further  enabled  by  the  au¬ 
thority  ajorejaid ,  That  every  Society  eftablifhed 
,  by  virtue  ot  this  Ad  fhali,  once  in  every  Y  ear, 
exhibit  to  the  City  and  County  Courts,  an 
account  of  the  fums  by  them  received  from  the 
produce  of  the  faid  faxes  and  fubfcriptions  5 
and  how  and  in  what  manner,  to  what  perfon, 
and  for  what  Rewards,  the  fame  hath  been 
paid  and  expended  :  And  the  City  and  County 
Courts  fhali  give  the  faid  Accounts  in  charge 
to  the  Grand  Jury  of  the  City  and  County, 
who  (hall  examine  the  fame,  and  report  to  the 
Court  their  approbation  or  disapprobation  there¬ 
of,  or  of  any  part  thereof }  and  no  Premium 
or  Reward  diiarproved  or  reported  by  the 
Grand  jury  at  one  exhibition  of  the  faid  Ac¬ 
counts,  to  be  improper,  or  not  allowable,  fhali 
be  allowed  by  the  faid  Society,  in  the  following 
year,  for  fimilar  Productions,  Manufactures, 

1 

or  Improvements. 

Se£t.  5.  And  be  it  further  enabled  by  the  au¬ 
thority  aforefaid ,  That  each  and  every  Treafu- 
rer  of  any  fuch  Society  fhali  give  Bond  with 
one  or  more  Surety  or  Sureties,  and  in  fuch 
penalty  as  fhali  be  required  by  the  Society,  con¬ 
ditioned  for  the  faithful  performance  of  the 


4 


(  29  ) 

truft  In  him  repofed,  and  for  the  payment  of 
all  Monies  which  fhall  come  into  his  hands  be« 
longing  to  fuch  Society,  from  the  taxes  or  fub- 
fcriptions  aforefaid,  to  fuch  perfon  or  perfon$~ 
as  the  Society  fhall  order. 

SeCt.  6.  And  be  it  further  e?ia£led  by  the  au~ 
thority  aforefaid ,  That  Rewards  for  promoting 
or  increafmg  the  Culture  of  the  White  or 
Italian  Mulberry-tree  ;  the  raifing  of  Silk ; 
th£  making  of  Sugar  from  the  Maple-tree  ; 
the  extraction  of  Salt  from  the  Afhes  of  vege¬ 
tables  ;  the  introduction  of  any  new  Grafs, 
Grain,  or  Root  into  Cultivation ;  the  Inven¬ 
tion  of  any  new  and  ufeful  inftrument  in  Huf- 
bandry  ;  the  raifing  and  Manufacturing  of 
Wool,  Hemp,  or  Flax  in  greater  quantities,  or 
improving  the  value  thereof  5  the  making  of 
Butter  and  Cheefe  in  any  given  quantities, 
and  of  the  befl  qualities ;  or  any  improvement 
in  all  and  every  the  articles  aforeiaid,  or  any 
other  improvement  in  Manufactures  or  the 
ufeful  Arts ;  fhall  always  be  confidered  by 
the  faid  Society,  and  by  the  Grand  Jury  of 
the  City  and  of  every  County  as  objeCts  of  the 
Rewards  contemplated  by  this  ACt :  And  Re¬ 
wards  allowed  in  confequence  thereof  fhall  be 


always  allowed  by  Grand  furies,  in  the  Ae« 
counts  of  fuch  Society;  and  fhall  not*  be  cei- 
fured,  it  they  ufe  moderation  in  granting  the 
fame* 


